How is motion affected in Cerebral Palsy?

I was on a website that listed the different forms of cerebral palsy and under the form Spastic, there were 6 sub-headings. I wasn't sure if these terms were thought of as subtypes or they were simply features of the spastic form. What I am talking about is; Diplegia, Hemiplegia, Double Hemiplegia, Quadriplegia, Monoplegia, and Triplegia. So, what I did was start out by defining the term –plegia. -Plegia is a combining form meaning “paralysis, cessation of motion,” in the limbs or region of the body specified by the initial element: cardioplegia; hemiplegia; quadriplegia. Now I have a better understanding of what I am talking about, so let me go into further detail.

 Children suffering with diplegia form of cerebral palsy are primarily affected in their legs. They have spasticity and have a hard time with balance and coordination. Delayed muscle growth and spasticity cause their leg muscles to be short. Because of this, their range of motion can decrease as they grow and their joints also become stiff. Their feet and ankles present difficulties in their attempt at walking because their Achilles tendons are short and tight. This can lead to toe walking. The severity of this diplegia may vary from mild to severe. The difference may mean that some may be able to walk without the use of aids while others may require aid in walking even a short distance. Aids such as wheelchairs may be necessary to help with mobility.

Children suffering with hemiplegia are affected in one arm and one leg on the same side of the body. Usually, children with hemiplegia have a problem with motion where the arm is more involved than the leg and the end of the limbs have more problems. The wrist and hand have more physical problems than the shoulder, with the elbow literally somewhere in the middle. Also, the ankle and foot will exhibit more difficulties than the knee. Those with hemiplegia also have problems with spasticity. Special braces and splints may be necessary to help the child learn to use both hand to play and perform other tasks. Children with hemiplegia may start walking late and walk on their toes but they also grow out of it. Children with hemiplegia are not intellectually impaired. They go to regular school and have relatively normal function as other adults.

Term double hemiplegia is applied inconsistently so it is usually avoided. However, it is said to refer to those with cerebral palsy that affects all four limbs asymmetrically between the right and the left sides. It is also sometimes used in instances where there is more involvement in the arms than in the legs.

Quadriplegia is a term used to describe when all four limbs are affected and more often than not, accompanied by more severe motor dysfunction than occurs in the other forms. It is also important to know than mental retardation is higher for children with quadriplegia. In order to not misdiagnose children thought to have mental retardation, the child should be seen by a professional. Many children do not really have mental retardation, but simply a difficulty in communicating due to their motor impairment. There are also kinds of quadriplegia which may render some children more mobile than others. These children may also have difficulty in eating so the use of a nutritionist may be vital.

Monoplegia is a rare form of the condition which is used to describe when a child has the use of only one limb. It is usually thought of as Hemiplegia with very mild involvement of the other limbs on the affected side of the body. These difficulties are caused by trauma to the brain and should not be confused with disabilities caused by a nerve injury. With hemiplegia the arm is the site of the motor dysfunction and physicians and therapists work with the children, helping them to use both hands, which can lead to improvement.

Last but not least is triplegia, where the child is affected in the use of three limbs. Usually these three limbs will be the two legs and one arm. This form is often thought of as Quadriplegia with less severe involvement of one of the arms.

This information was cited from: www.originsofcerebralpalsy.com